IJSRSET173341 | 21 May 2017 | Accepted: 31 May 2017 | May-June-2017 [(2)3: 179-188] © 2017 IJSRSET | Volume 3 | Issue 3 | Print ISSN: 2395-1990 | Online ISSN : 2394-4099 Themed Section: Engineering and Technology 179 A Review of the Roof Design and its Influence on the Thermal Performance of Buildings in Equator Area with Warm Humid Climate B. Rudianto 1 , S. N. N. Ekasiwi 2 , I. G. N. Antaryama 2 1 Ph.D Program, Department of Architecture, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia 2 Department of Architecture, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia ABSTRACT In equator area, roof is building element that plays a role in protecting the building from solar radiation because the sun traverses almost perpendicular. The character of warm humid climate is not only high radiation but also high humidity and rainfall. The roof design in the past has a large roof shape, the use of local materials and ventilation existed to get a good thermal performance. Roof designs of modern building mostly have a variation on the roof shape, materials and construction that may affect the thermal performance. This study provides a review of research on the roof design and its influence on the thermal performance of building in warm humid climate. For this purpose, all papers are categorized in two main groups namely pitched-roof and flat-roof. This study shows that the variety of roof shape, materials and construction on modern roof design causes each roof design has the different strategy to improve thermal performance. Roof designs of modern building rely on insulation material to reduce heat transfer. The strategy to reduce radiant heat transfer on pitched-roof depends on kind of insulation and its placement. The strategy to reduce conduction heat transfer on flat-roof depends on kind of insulation and air gap thickness. Combination of insulation material and cool paint on both roof designs is not only reduces heat flux but also lowers surface temperature so that contributes to reduce heat dispersion to the surrounding air. Natural ventilation is still required on certain roof designs to help improve the thermal performance of buildings. Keywords: Roof Design, Thermal Performance, Heat Transfer, Roof Shape, Insulation Material, Cool Paint, Warm Humid Climate I. INTRODUCTION In the past, the roof was characteristic that determines the building shape and the appearance of settlements of a climate region. The difference in appearance was a manifestation of its environmental conditions that utilized to get comfort and health [1]. The roof is the main source of heat gain on buildings in equator area with warm humid climate [2]; [3]; [4]; [5]. The area of warm humid climate is located geographically at latitude between 15° N - 15° S. The character of its climate has the monthly temperatures about 20°-30°C with little diurnal range. Humidity through the year above 60% with maximum about 90-100%. The annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm. The high temperature and high humidity cause excessive evaporation that can not be easily removed [4]. Heat can be removed by ventilation in small differences between indoor and outdoor temperature. On a large temperature difference due to the solar radiation on the roof has caused the high of mass radiation temperature on the ceiling. Therefore, the roof is building element that important to note [5]. The building envelope keeps the heat transfer into the buildings most of the day. Improving thermal performance of building is an attempt to reduce thermal load, that means reducing energy consumption for cooling [7]. In warm humid climate, the roof must be designed to minimize solar heat gain and promote ventilation. Roof shape with sharp slope angle creating the volume of air as cavity. Ventilation existed to remove unwanted heat. This kind of roof is not only to form a large volume of air as cavity but also to drain off